PORTLAND, Oregon — A Tigard police officer was injured and hospitalized after responding to an emergency call two weeks ago. Now, he has returned to full duty.
Travis Gregston rides a motorcycle as part of the Tigard Police Traffic Safety Unity. On March 12, Gregston was responding to a call when a driver crashed into his motorcycle at Southwest Hall Boulevard and Southwest Hunziker Street, according to Tigard police.
A video camera on Gregston's helmet caught the crash. The video shows a red SUV proceed to turn left in the intersection and hit him.
"Using my lights and sirens, slowing down through the intersection, I figured that the driver saw me, so I went ahead and accelerated through the intersection," he said.
The video below shows the SUV hit the police officer and may be hard for some people to watch.
Gregston recalled what went through his mind.
"I cannot believe that just happened," he said.
He was concerned for the safety of the driver and other law enforcement who responded to the crash. When he watched the video of the crash, Gregston said it reminded him of what he felt in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
"I hit my head so hard on the side of the car that I could taste kind of a copper taste in my mouth. When I watched that video for the first time, I could taste that copper taste," Gregston said.
The driver of the vehicle wasn't hurt. According to Gregston, the driver said in a statement that she heard the siren but didn't know where it was coming from. Another officer at the scene did not cite her for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.
Gregston was taken to the hospital for a minor knee injury. He returned to full duty on March 26. Aside from being sore and having some bumps and bruises, Gregston said he feels pretty good.
“I’m lucky enough to be walking away from this," he said.
Gregston said the crash gave him "teaching moments" and he has been reflecting on what he could have done differently. He also reminds drivers to yield to the right or stop if they hear sirens.